Sasha Pieterse: ‘Pretty Little Liars’ Star Talks Weight Gain, Fires Back At Body Shamers
Sasha Pieterse is firing back at body shamers!
The Pretty Little Liars star who plays the character Alison DiLaurentis on the Freeform series has been busy this season fighting off “Uber A” with her besties Spencer (Troian Bellisario), Aria (Lucy Hale), Hanna (Ashley Benson) and Emily (Shay Mitchell), all while trying to remain alive in a universe that obviously wants her dead. However, when she isn’t trying to solve the mystery around her sister’s death, and reveal who is trying to kill her, Sasha Pieterse is focusing on her body image and those who insist on calling her out for her recent weight gain.
Fans started noticing Sasha’s fuller figure last year and started asking questions about her weight. Many were concerned with Sasha’s health, while others questioned whether or not she was pregnant. All of the speculation prompted Sasha to share the real reason she had been putting on some extra pounds. At the time, Pieterse explained that she had been suffering from a bad hormone imbalance that had thrown her “body completely out of whack,” People Magazine reported. In addition, Sasha urged others who are suffering from similar conditions that cause weight gain to “deal with it in a healthy way.”
Dear @SashaaPieterse, this note to your body shamers is seriously, the best thing
Read: https://t.co/6JyEHV6Fle pic.twitter.com/Hn8a7xvfxW— Just Jared Jr. (@justjaredjr) July 16, 2016
While Sasha thought she had set the record straight, more rumors returned when Season 7 of Pretty Little Liars aired on Freeform this summer. Fans noticed Pieterse’s character was wearing bulky dresses, and appeared to be larger than before. Again, viewers were wondering why she was gaining so much weight, and even went as far as to make fun of her and call her names. In another lengthy post on Instagram, Sasha once again explained the reason behind the weight and called out the body shamers for their intense criticism.
“There was major backlash on social media,” she wrote. “People were actually angry that I had gained weight, I was being (and still am) called names, made fun of, the (unfortunate) usual but it wasn’t until people started asking and assuming I was pregnant that I decided to say something.”
Sasha went on to explain how hard it is to be a woman in today’s society. With the standards set so high, it is almost impossible for a woman to love her body, but Pieterse is urging other women to see the positives in their lives, rather than focus on their flaws and insecurities. She wants all women to love themselves no matter what, even if they have gained a little weight.
Sasha Pieterse appreciation Tweet We Love You Sasha pic.twitter.com/9gRsAErgDA
— ?? (@mistletoemison) July 15, 2016
“We’ve all heard our parents tell us to treat people the way you want to be treated, but I think often we don’t treat ourselves the way we should be treated,” she continued. “I decided at that point to love myself the way I am right now. That doesn’t mean I don’t want to improve myself, it means that I am making a point to love myself at every stage and chapter of my life.”
Sasha added, “Do not lower yourself to people who refuse to grow higher. If you don’t love yourself, you’ll continue to chase people who don’t love you either.”
Read Sasha Pieterse’s full statement about weight gain and body shamers below.
— Sasha Pieterse (@SashaaPieterse) July 14, 2016
Since Sasha posted the message on Instagram Thursday, it has been “liked” more than 80,000 times by her followers. She has also received an outpouring of support for her strength to stand up to those who have been putting her down.
“This really helped me and i really really really appreciate it. i’m glad a celebrity finally said it,” one Instagram user wrote, while another added, “This is so inspiring. This actually helped me in so many ways sasha. Thank you thank you so much.”
[Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP]
